80,000 Reasons to Log Miles

May 18, 2023

In 2016, GVLT kicked off the first annual Summer Trails Challenge, a month-long, community wide celebration of all things trails. Since that time, Gallatin Valley runners, walkers, hikers and dog walkers have logged over 400,000 miles for area trails. In fact, this community loves Summer Trails Challenge so much, it was voted winner of the 2023 Bozeman Choice Award for the best Summer Sports/Recreation event of the summer.

When GVLT held its inaugural annual Summer Trails Challenge in, we set a goal of 20,000 miles. We thought that number was wildly ambitious. Imagine! The Bozeman community covering 20,000 miles on area trails in just two weeks’ time and yet this community rallied.  Every year since then — no matter what the weather, no matter how absurd our goal – area hikers, bikers, runners, strollers and joggers have exceeded our expectations.

This year, the community match pool sits at a record $80,000. The money raised during the Challenge is funneled directly into GVLT’s work to build a world-class connected trail system, your community trails system. There is no other fundraiser in town that allows everyone to participate, regardless of age, income, availability, or fitness level – just by getting outside to do what you want to be doing anyway.

So starting on June 3, 2023, grab your friends and your family and get out there.  Run, bike, or walk on area trails — any trail, any time. Record your miles on the GVLT Summer Trails Challenge webpage at www.gvlt.org and GVLT gets $1 from the Match Pool for every mile logged.

Log your miles here!

Thanks so much and we’ll see you on the trails!

p.s  Don’t forget come by the GVLT office on Friday, June 30, 2023, for the Trails Challenge finale BBQ hosted by Montana Ale Works.  Anyone who logs miles during the Challenge is welcome to attend!